Chit fund scam stretches to Assam, CM hints at ordering CBI probe

Guwahati: The Saradha chit fund scam also stretches to Assam. Saradha promoter Sudipta Sen's explosive letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) brings Assam Health and Education Minister and a former DGP under scrutiny. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has hinted at a CBI enquiry, but says his minister will not quit till proven guilty.

The 18-page letter written by Sudipta Sen alleges a prominent Assam cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took money from him. Reports suggest the minister denied all such links. In the face of these unproven allegations, the Chief Minister has hinted at a CBI enquiry.

"We will order a CBI probe into the chit fund scam soon, we are discussing the issue. There is no question of the minister, Biswa Sarma, resigning until there is some concrete proof against him. This is a serious issue and the government will take all measures to protect the interests of the investors," Gogoi said.

Jayanta Narayan Choudhuri, DGP, Assam, said, "The police cannot be faulted, we are doing things. Companies like Saradha have footprints, they go beyond Assam, that is why CBI can better investigate the particular case. No one from police have interfered in the slow down of the case."

The Assam Police plans to send a team to Bengal soon. On paper for the security of investors, the Assam Legislature has passed an act for Protection of Depositors, but in reality the Gogoi government seems to be neck deep in a scam that has caught every one off guard.